Nursing sweater that converts to a cardigan, hood and babywearing sweater

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a nursing or breastfeeding sweater or a long shirt with a wide long front panel that can be worn around the neck to convert to a cardigan. When the panel is in the front of the body, it looks like a poncho and provides ample material, privacy, and coverage for a nursing mother to feed her baby or to pump breast milk. When it is pulled upwards and backwards over the head and placed around the neck, the head does not go through neck hole as the neck hole is worn on the back of the neck. The garment, having armholes or sleeves allows extended privacy and freedom of arm movement because of the integration of arm holes or sleeves. The garment also makes secondary use of the neck hole by placing baby&#39;s head through the hole when the mother is wearing the baby using a baby carrier and can be worn over both the mother and the baby. The front panel can also be placed over the head as a hood. The invention can also be worn as a three in one cardigan for women who prefer a sweater to have versatile styling such as a poncho, hood, or cardigan.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

62/274,794

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a nursing cardigan or a top which can be worn as a cardigan with a draping collar and when the user has to breastfeed or to pump milk, the collar can be pulled overhead and placed in the front of the woman in order to conceal both her breasts, her back and sides, and the baby while she is nursing. The invention can also be used as a maternity cardigan or poncho during the pregnancy as well as a baby wearing top after the pregnancy. The invention is also useful for women who are not breastfeeding who use the garment as a cardigan or as a poncho or hoodie when it gets colder.

This field of garments has various clothing options for nursing women for when they go out or travel. One famous patented nursing dress is SLURP AND BURP NURSING SHRUG which is a breast feeding cover and the burp cloth is sewn into the dress so that she does not have to use an extra cloth. The present invention is a different method of wearing the nursing cover which can draped on the back of user's neck shrug cardigan when the user is not nursing and when she is nursing, it can be pulled over head and placed in front to cover the nursing baby. The Chinese Patent CN 201120200132 presents a waiting, breast-notifying and breast-nursing knitted sweater, which not only has heat insulation, waisting and body building functions, but also has odor decomposition, deodorization, automatic humidification and healthcare functions. Another Patent CN 2251892 Y is a breast feeding shirt which has a breast-feeding opening for breast-feeding a baby is arranged on a position of a cotton sweater interlock singlet or a shirt, and the position of a cotton sweater interlock singlet or a shirt is positioned on a breast. A zipper is arranged on the breast-feeding opening in the cotton sweater interlock singlet type breast-feeding shirt, and a cover piece is arranged on the breast-feeding opening of the shirt type breast-feeding shirt. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,078 A is an improved coat that has large sleeves and an oversized girth whereby the wearer of the coat may carry a child under the coat on either the wearer's front or back. An adjustable length belt blacks the passage of air into the coat, prevents articles stored in the sleeves under the coat from falling out, and pulls the fullness of the coat into the wearer so that coat may be worn by a single person. A deployable front hood is provided to protect the child when carried in the front. However, the present invention is novel in that it is worn as either a poncho that is flowy enough to be able to nurse with complete privacy all around or it can be converted into a stylish cardigan that is fashionable enough to wear as a cardigan for the mother or as a baby wearing sweater for both the mother and the baby. The novelty in this design is that the sweater can function in so many ways and yet also provides a very easy way to access privacy for the mother without her having to dig out her nursing cover when it is needed. Furthermore, the various ways to wear it differentiate it from other products for moms which have a much shorter shelf life.

There are also nursing scarves which are worn as a scarf around the neck either as a large rectangle with a neck hole or as a looped infinity scarf which is a long piece of fabric that is stitched together that can be pulled down from the neck around the entire body to be used as a nursing cover. These two scarf designs do not have both a front and back panel nor are they worn as a top with arm holes or sleeves. The lack of sleeves makes it difficult for the mother to have full coverage and full mobility of the arms which is very important while breastfeeding because the mother often has to position the child to latch correctly which is very difficult to do without full arm mobility. They furthermore do not function well as fashionable tops with many different ways to be worn or used. They also hinder or the baby's movement because they swaddle the baby while nursing and can cause the baby discomfort.

There are also patents in the form of a sweater as in contained in Patent CN 2296116Y where both sides of the front chest of the clothes are provided with circular holes that the women who are in the nursing period can expose breasts. A circular cover cap which is connected with the clothes by a nylon snap fastener is arranged on the circular hole. A piece of controlling bellyband is connected along the direction of waistline from the waist inside the clothes to the lap. The both ends of the controlling bellyband are respectively on two front parts of the clothes. One end of the controlling bellyband is provided with a hook, and the other end is provided with a hanging sleeve. However, the present invention provides a utility that it can fully cover the mother's breasts while nursing whereas this example exposes the breast when the mother begins to nurse. The invention also does not require the mother to have a separate nursing cover to provide coverage during breastfeeding. Instead the invention front panel is worn as a drapey top around the neck or as a hood or back cover. It is also useful after the mother is done with nursing as it can be worn as both the poncho/tunic, cardigan, or hood to women who are not breastfeeding. Also the Patent WO 2012092655 A1 contains a nursing garment in which the front portion includes an inner layer positionable against the wearer's breasts. The inner layer has a first opening defined therein located proximal to the nipple of one of the wearer's breasts for providing access thereto. An outer layer having a second opening is superimposed on the inner layer. The first and second openings are align able with each other to allow the nipple to be exposed. Another U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,455 B2 which discloses a garment for a wearer who breastfeeds, comprising: a jacket with sleeves and breast covering parts; the jacket attached to a bodice having a front adapted for breastfeeding and a back, the bodice extending from the wearer's armpits to below the wearer's waist; the jacket being joined to the bodice by a horizontal seam which encircles at least the back of the bodice; and wherein the bodice has releasable attachable shoulder straps through fastener means and the jacket overlies the fastener means; whereby in the event of breastfeeding the breast covering parts of the jacket are moveable clear of the bodice in the breast area, to allow access to the wearer's breast beneath without the need to remove the jacket from the wearer's body. The Chinese Patent CN 2296116 Y relates to clothes for nursing period woman, which are above an opening sweater. Both sides of the front chest of the clothes are provided with circular holes that the women who are in the nursing period can expose breasts. A circular cover cap which is connected with the clothes by a nylon snap fastener is arranged on the circular hole. A piece of controlling bellyband is connected along the direction of waistline from the waist inside the clothes to the lap. The both ends of the controlling bellyband are respectively on two front parts of the clothes. One end of the controlling bellyband is provided with a hook, and the other end is provided with a hanging sleeve. The utility model is suitable for nursing period women to wear. The prior art also contains an apron having a neck halter and extending downward across the chest of the wearer a distance at least sufficient to cover her breasts and containing a pair of flaps which may be formed from flattened pleats extending across the breasts, which flaps overlie a pair of openings through said apron in the area of the breasts as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,122 A. However, none of the Patents disclosed present a similar design as is claimed in the present invention.

The Patent CN 2933041Y discloses a lady jacket for convenient suckling, wherein the areas of breasts in the chest are separately arranged with an opening with a flip and a slide fastener that can make the flip open or close the opening. The utility model can be used in women's lactation. When suckling, women can just open the flip by slide fastener without undoing the jacket, which provides convenience to suckling, in particular to cold days, can prevent women from catching cold. Other Patent CN 2272662Y provides a fashionable dress type lactation shirt which is suitable for being snugly worn by a woman in a lactation period. The utility model is characterized in that two slightly elliptic lactation orifices are bored at the position corresponding to two breasts. A piece of strip-shaped cover cloth of which the upper and the lower side edges are connected with clothes by buttons and press buttons is arranged outside the lactation orifices along the entire chest, and the strip-shaped cover cloth can be torn down along across corners. The inner side of the cover cloth is provided with a moisture absorption pad for absorbing leaked milk.

The present invention is an improvement in the prior art because it does not expose the mother's breast while she is readying for breastfeeding and provides full coverage without needing to carry an additional garment or item in order to breastfeed. The front portion of the sweater is long enough to cover the mother while she is nursing and while preparing to nurse. After pregnancy, the sweater functions as both a cardigan, a poncho, and a hooded shrug so the garment continues to be useful to the mom and does not need to be given away or thrown away. Hence, the invention is commercially and personally an advantage over what already existed. The limitation and non-effectiveness of the prior art has been overcome by the present invention as described below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing descriptions outline some pertinent features and objects of the present invention. These may be illustrative of more exhaustive and comprehensive features described later in the application. The technical terms used in this documents, are meant with the same meaning as understood by a typical expert of the field which is related to the invention

The present invention relates to a nursing sweater or a long shirt with or without sleeves with a wide long front panel to provide coverage for the baby while the mother is feeding the baby. It can also be pulled upwards and backwards around the neck where the head does not go through neck hole as the neck hole is worn on the back of the neck and the front panel is then draped across the shoulders and sides of the woman in order to be worn as a cardigan.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the sweater is a long panel which can also be worn as a maternity cardigan or a poncho during the times of pregnancy. The long front panel can be pulled over the woman's head and placed behind her neck like a collar when the woman is not nursing. When she is ready to breastfeed, the woman does not take the sweater off but simply pulls the collar over her head and moves it to her front so as to cover her body and the baby while is nursing. The sweater has armholes or sleeves to allow the woman to have the freedom of movement of her arms without exposing her or the baby during nursing.

It is an objective of the present disclosed invention to provide the best system with an advanced technique and designs over and above the traditional systems. The invention is designed to be more convenient for the nursing mother as she does not need to have a separate nursing cover carried around and she does not need a receiving blanket. It also saves the mother from purchasing separate nursing tops which are worn once and laundered whereas this invention is worn as a sweater or cardigan and can be worn for several days before washing. It also preserves the aesthetic fashion of the mother as she does not need to wear a nursing cover to nurse and can simply wear the cardigan. It can be worn in multiple embodiments which includes a sweater or a cardigan, a shrug or a hood.

The cardigan can also be worn with the neck hole low on the back so that the cardigan can be worn over a baby carrier and allow the baby and the mother together to wear the cardigan together which helps to connect the mother and the baby with one garment. It has also been used to carry babies on the front by wearing the entire poncho over both mom and baby. These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily visible to the persons ordinarily skilled in the art related to this field comprehending in entirety the above characteristics, following descriptions and claims of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the nursing sweater and the different styles and processes in which it can be worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the present disclosure, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples and method, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details. In other instances, well-known details are not shown.

The FIG. 1 is an entire diagram of the process and style of wearing the sweater or shirt which is disclosed in the present invention. The sweater or cardigan is worn in the usual form where it has a long and drapery front which is long enough to be worn even as maternity poncho during the times of pregnancy of the mother 101. This embodiment is also used when the woman feeds the child after pregnancy and serves as nursing cover for the baby 106. In another embodiment, when the woman is not nursing the child, the front panel can be pulled over the head 102 and on to the back of the neck in the form of a collar or scarf 103. In another embodiment, the front panel can be put on the head as a hood where the head of the woman does not go into the neck hole 107. The rear view is also shown 104 when the sweater is used like a cardigan with the front panel used as a collar and the neck hole is behind the neck and concealed by the folds of the collar. During and after pregnancy, the poncho can be worn as-is or can be modified with a belt or other accessories 105. After pregnancy, in another embodiment, the sweater can be worn over a soft structured baby carrier, that is worn on the back, as a cardigan and functions as a baby wearing sweater wherein the baby's head goes through the neck hole of the cardigan behind the mother's neck 108. After the nursing or breastfeeding stage, the sweater functions as both a cardigan 103, a poncho 101, and a hooded shrug for the mother 107.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been provided, it is to be understood that these embodiments are for illustration purposes and not limiting. Many additional embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art reading this disclosure. For example some nursing scarves are also used for seat covers for grocery carts and also for canopy covers for strollers and infant car seat carriers 

What is claimed for is:
 1. A garment such as a top which has the capability of providing full privacy both in front and behind for a breastfeeding woman while she is nursing a baby comprising a front and a back panel with a neck and arm holes, the front panel of which is long and wide to be used as a nursing cover when in the front of the woman and which will be pulled over the woman's head and placed behind her neck and draped over her shoulders and sides so as to be worn as a cardigan or a vest thus positioning the neck hole of the garment to sit behind the woman's neck, thus giving the woman the convenience to transform her top into a nursing cover without the need of an additional garment or nursing cover or blanket.
 2. The garment in claim 1 having sleeves attached at the arm holes.
 3. The garment in claim 1 having a closure method such as buttons, snaps, ties, or a zipper to join the draping sides of the cardigan or vest when the front panel is draped behind the neck of the woman.
 4. The garment in claim 1 having an opening down the middle of the front panel of the garment that can detach or attach the front panel into one or two pieces and having a closure method such as buttons, snaps, ties, or a zipper in order to close the front panel to allow nursing.
 5. The garment in claim 1 being worn as a cardigan over both the woman and a baby that is being carried on the back of the woman using a baby carrier wherein the neck hole behind the woman's neck is opened in order to place a baby's head through thus allowing the woman and the baby to share the warmth and the style of the garment together.
 6. The garment in claim 1 being worn as a hooded cardigan or shrug wherein the front panel is pulled over the head and placed atop the head as a hood, thus placing the neck hole of the top behind the neck of the woman.
 7. The garment in claim 6 which has buttons, snaps, ties, or a zipper to close the front of the hooded cardigan or having a split on the front panel with buttons, snaps, ties, or zippers to open or close the front panel in different styles.
 8. A garment such as a top comprising a front and a back panel with a neck and arm holes or sleeves, the front panel of which is long and wide when in the front of the woman and which will be pulled over the woman's head and placed behind her neck and draped over her shoulders and sides so as to be worn as a cardigan or a vest thus positioning the neck hole of the garment to sit behind the woman's neck, thus giving the woman the convenience to transform her top into a a cardigan and which can also be placed on top of her head to be worn also as a hooded cardigan.
 9. The garment in claim 8 having buttons, snaps, ties, or zippers to close the front of the cardigan or having a split on the front panel with buttons, snaps, ties, or zippers to open or close the front panel in different styles. 